MOTORING giant Ford is launching a car key which will allow parents to limit the speed their teenage sons and daughters can drive at.

MOTORING giant Ford is launching a car key which will allow parents to limit the speed their teenage sons and daughters can drive at.

The system can also stop phone calls being made from the car, turn its stereo down by remote control and even block it if seatbelts are not being used.

The “MyKey” system works through a second key, which is the only one given to a young driver.

After the vehicle reaches a set speed, the driver hears a sound and a warning to slow down. Ford researcher Paul Mascarena said: “It is targeted at young drivers, although it is useful for fleet operators.

“We were concerned children would see it as Big Brother watching them, but they get more access to the vehicle.

“Parents get peace of mind.”

When the technology was launched in America, Ford found no teenagers complained about the system, and all new British Ford cars will have it from next year.

But road safety experts had misgivings about the idea. Professor Stephen Glaister, of the RAC Foundation, said: “The biggest threats to young people are their inexperience and sense of invincibility. It seems unlikely setting an arbitrary speed limit will change this.”

And the AA’s Andrew Howard said: “Driving at 40mph might be all right on a country lane, but it could cause a lot of problems on the motorway.”